The additions of San Jose State and Utah State from the Western Athletic Conference mean the Mountain West will play in two six-team divisions and hold a conference championship game. The inaugural title game will be played Dec.7 at the home of the team that has the highest ranking in the BCS standings. During the regular season, each team will play its five division opponents and three from the opposite division, with the matchups generated by computer.

Boise State is usually unbeatable when coach Chris Petersen returns a starting quarterback, as he does with senior Joe Southwick. If Boise State can get past Washington and Brigham Young during non-conference play, it will open a road to a 12-0 regular season that would include wins against Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State and Air Force.

The Mountain West is skewed toward its top five or six teams. But outside of UNLV, there should be increased competitiveness across the board.

PREDICTED RECORDS

Champion: Boise State

Mountain

Boise State: 11-1, 8-0

Utah State: 8-4, 6-2

Air Force: 7-5, 5-3

New Mexico: 6-6, 3-5

Colorado State: 3-9, 2-6

Wyoming: 4-8, 2-6

West

Fresno State: 9-3, 6-2

San Diego State: 7-5, 5-3

Nevada: 5-7, 4-4

San Jose State: 5-7, 3-5

Hawaii: 4-8, 3-5

UNLV: 2-10, 1-7

FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH

QB Derek Carr, Sr., Fresno State: Carr is one of the most productive quarterbacks in the FBS an a fringe Heisman Trophy candidate in 2013. The school is putting together a campaign to boost Carr's profile, but winning games would be the first step. A player from a non-automatic qualifying conference has not won the Heisman since BYU's Ty Detmer in 1990.

DE Demarcus Lawrence, Jr., Boise State: Last year's conference leader in sacks (9 ½ and tackles for loss (13 ½) might be only scratching the surface of his potential.

WR Noel Grigsby, Sr., San Jose State: He is the school's leader in receptions (227) and career receiving yardage (3,015) and second among active Football Bowl Subdivision players in both categories at the start of the 2013 season.

DE Brock Hekking, Jr., Nevada: Hekking started every game as a sophomore and led the Wolfpack with eight sacks and 10 tackles for loss a year ago.

LT Charles Leno, Sr., Boise State: He has started 26 consecutive games and been part of a line that was ranked sixth nationally in sacks allowed in 2012 and first in 2011.

CAN'T MISS GAMES

Boise State at Fresno State, Sept. 20: This Friday night game features the Mountain West's two best on national television. It's a huge game for both teams. Boise State has won the last seven meetings between the schools, and Fresno State has one win in 12 matchups.

Fresno State at San Diego State, Oct. 26: This "Battle for the Oil Can" will decide the West Division, with the winner getting the key head-to-head tiebreaker. Fresno State won 52-40 last season, handing the Aztecs their only conference loss.

Fresno State at San Jose State, Nov. 29: The longtime rivalry resumes with a Black Friday afternoon showdown on the final weekend of the regular season. The teams did not meet last season because they were in different conferences, but San Jose State's addition to the Mountain West and placement in the same division as Fresno ensures an annual meeting.

QB AJ McCarron, Alabama: Coach Nick Saban could be willing to open up his offense with several key losses on the offensive line. That should help his quarterback post more impressive statistics, making him a Heisman threat.
John David Mercer, USA TODAY Sports

WR Marqise Lee, USC:
Lee, who finished fourth last year, posted 1,721 yards on 118 receptions with 14 touchdowns and is a game-breaker waiting to happen, but he won’t have Matt Barkley throwing to him.
Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

QB Jordan Lynch, Northern Illinois: Lynch set an NCAA record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 1,815 (and also scored 19 TDs) and threw for 3,138 yards with 25 touchdown passes and six interceptions.
Andrew Weber, USA TODAY Sports

QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville: Bridgewater is being talked about as the top quarterback prospect in next year’s NFL draft. But first, Bridgewater will lead the Cardinals in the first year of the American Athletic Conference.
Chuck Cook, USA TODAY Sports

RB Duke Johnson, Miami (Fla.): Johnson posted the second-most all-purpose yards in a season at Miami with 2,060 as a freshman. He also set a freshman record with 947 rushing yards.
Mark Dolejs, USA TODAY Sports

RB De'Anthony Thomas, Oregon: Thomas presents a bit of a wild card, given that he will be playing for a new coach and is in the Pac-12 with a lot of night games after voters in the Eastern half of the country have gone to bed.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

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Worth watching: The only question surrounding WR Ty MacArthur is how often Air Force can get the senior do-everything skill player the ball in space.

Bottom line: Air Force will battle for the Mountain Division on one side and against Navy and Army on the other, with each affecting the Falcons' quest for yet another bowl run under coach Troy Calhoun. There's no doubt Air Force will reach the postseason. But if the offense clicks, this well could be the third-best team in the conference.

Worth watching: Joe Southwick improved dramatically over the second half of last season, effectively putting to rest any thoughts that coach Chris Petersen would reopen his quarterback competition during the spring. While not overly athletic, Southwick is nimble enough as a runner to give this offense another dimension.

Bottom line: Expect Boise State again to challenge for an at-large BCS bid. Also expect the Broncos to make a run at a 12-0 regular season, which might put them in position to play for a national championship during the final season of the BCS.

Worth watching: Already one of the most promising edge rushers in the country, LB Cory James will develop a more complete game over the course of the season.

Bottom line: It's going to be difficult for Colorado State to finish in the top three of the Mountain Division, but the Rams are young enough to expect some progression in the team's second season under coach Jim McElwain. This will be evident over the second half of the season, when Colorado State should rebound from a slow start to push for five wins.

Worth watching: After proving he could handle the running aspect of the quarterback job a season ago, Cole Gautsche will take the entire option-heavy offense. He and RB Kasey Carrier make a dangerous pair in the backfield.

Bottom line: Despite winning only four games, last year's team was one of the pleasant surprises in the Mountain West. There is potential for a push for bowl eligibility in 2013, though that probably would require the Lobos to go 3-1 in non-conference play. Overall, this team will be tougher, peskier and harder to stop on the ground than it was a season ago. No team in the Mountain West will look forward to playing New Mexico -- which is quite a change from only two years ago.

Worth watching: Few linebackers in the league do so much for their defense as Zach Vigil, from stopping the run, making plays behind the line of scrimmage and putting pressure on the quarterback on passing downs.

Bottom line: Watching Utah State and Air Force go head-to-head in the Mountain Division will be interesting, even if neither quite has what it takes to unseat Boise State. The Aggies will be doubly intriguing after a coaching change, with former offensive coordinator Matt Wells replacing Wisconsin-bound Gary Andersen. He'll keep the Aggies rolling along.

Worth watching: Brett Smith quietly has put together the best two-year start by a quarterback in school history. He'll need to become even more productive if Wyoming is to reach bowl eligibility.

Bottom line: Someone has to struggle in the Mountain, and Wyoming, which lost a significant amount of senior leadership from last year's defense, seems like an also-ran compared to the division's top half. Where will the wins come from? Another four-victory season could mean trouble for coach Dave Christensen, so the Cowboys desperately need to take care of business against teams such as Texas State, Hawaii, Colorado State and Idaho to remain in the postseason hunt. It doesn't look promising.

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Ohio Stadium, Ohio State: Built more than 90 years ago alongside the Olentangy River, Ohio Stadium is most known for its horseshoe configuration that also includes a scenic rotunda at the north end.
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Memorial Stadium, Clemson: Dubbed the 25 most exciting seconds in college football, the Tigers gather at the top of a hill and each player touches Howard's Rock as he sprints down to the field.
Mark Crammer, AP

Tiger Stadium, LSU: Legend says in 1988 when the Tigers scored a game-winning touchdown in the final minute against Auburn, the rumble from the stadium caused the seismograph at the school to register an earthquake.
Patrick Semansky, AP

Bronco Stadium, Boise State: The standout feature is the famous blue turf, which was installed in 1986. It was largely anonymous until the school emerged as a national power this century.
Brian Losness, USA TODAY Sports

Kyle Field, Texas A&M: The experience begins the night before the kickoff when thousands of fans show up for midnight yell practice led by the school's Corps of Cadets. Those yells are part of the game-day traditions of the school that is also home of the "12th Man."
Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports

Autzen Stadium, Oregon: The unique layout puts the stands right on top of the sunken field, which traps the uproar inside the stadium, making life difficult for the visitors
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

Rose Bowl, UCLA: No scene in college football might be more beautiful than the sun setting over the San Gabriel Mountains during the Rose Bowl with the crowd full of the contrasting colors of each team.
Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports

Lane Stadium, Virginia Tech: Hokies fans explode with the blasting of Enter Sandman on the speakers right before the home team takes the field and don't let up throughout the game.
James Lang, USA TODAY Sports

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Worth watching: There might not be a more underappreciated quarterback in college football than Derek Carr. But by December, expect Carr to have made his name known across the country.

Bottom line: Fresno State has the best shot of knocking Boise State down a peg, and not just because the Bulldogs host the Broncos on Sept.20. This team has the offensive firepower to take advantage of Boise State's issues at cornerback, perhaps outscoring the Broncos and putting the Bulldogs on the map in the chase for a BCS berth. Fresno State is one of the best non-major teams and a threat for 10 wins during the regular season.

Worth watching: Art Laurel has the ability to create chaos in the opponent's backfield, harkening to a time when Hawaii was loaded with fast and aggressive linebackers. He's the leader of a defense that hopes to make a mammoth improvement in all areas.

Bottom line: Coach Norm Chow has nearly started from scratch, rebuilding Hawaii from the bottom up in the hope to create a perennial contender, not a one-year wonder. While their record will improve in 2013, the Warriors are still catching up to Chow's vision and his offensive system. The new recruiting class helps, but Hawaii is still a year from contending for a top-three spot in the West Division.

Worth watching: Junior QB Cody Fajardo might take on more of the load in the running game without RB Stefphon Jefferson, who opted to forgo his final season of college eligibility. Fajardo has the athletic ability to put together a season with 3,000 yards passing, 1,300 yards rushing and more than 40 combined TDs.

Bottom line: Nevada will try to work through the learning curve as quickly as possible and get everyone on the same page before hitting the heart of league play in October. While a serious threat in the West, the Wolf Pack's non-conference schedule (UCLA, Florida State and Brigham Young) could leave them on the edge of bowl eligibility.

Worth watching: S Eric Pinkens proved he can stop the run (65 tackles in 2012) and defend the pass (three interceptions). Pinkens, the leader of the Aztecs' back line, is an all-conference contender.

Bottom line: San Diego State is a step behind Fresno State, but the gap isn't huge. One could make a strong case for SDSU as the division's best team, especially given that it hosts Fresno State on Oct.26. The issue might be that the Aztecs need development to reach their full potential. An eight-win season is very much in the cards, but SDSU should finish behind the Bulldogs.

Worth watching: QB David Fales' 2012 season (4,193 yards, 33 TDs) was one of the best by a first-year junior college transfer in recent FBS history. He's already getting long looks as a potential high NFL draft pick next April.

Bottom line: Like Nevada, San Jose State is experiencing a coaching change: Ron Caragher has replaced Mike MacIntyre. Also like Nevada, the Spartans will hit up against a tough non-conference schedule in September (at Ohio State, vs. Oregon State). This, when combined with a more difficult league schedule compared to last season's Western Athletic Conference slate, should lead to a steep drop in wins. But San Jose State is more than strong enough to get to six victories.

Worth watching: On a defense for which every down is a challenge, end Sonny Sanitoa's ability to get pressure on the quarterback is absolutely invaluable. The best news? Sanitoa is a sophomore, so his best days lie ahead.

Bottom line: Youth no longer is an excuse for UNLV, which has been horrific through Bobby Hauck's tenure. Why should this season be any different? While talent at the skill positions will keep several games interesting, the Rebels are nowhere near a point where they could win six or more games.